Search - Olivier Messiaen, Carl Vine, Ottorino Respighi :: Messiaen, Carl Vine, Respighi & Ligeti

Unheralded brilliance

Bruce Hodges | New York, NY | 07/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A couple of friends sent me this CD, justifiably effusive about it, and I must agree with them: this is one hot pianist. The first-prize winner in the 1989 Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition, Sergei Babayan is apparently well known to connoisseurs of fine piano playing, but from the evidence here, deserves the widest possible audience. His amazingly strong technique is well presented by Pro Piano Records' sound here, too, which which puts you right up near the instrument. (The recording itself was made in Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.) Babayan's unusual menu begins with three selections from Messiaen's Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant Jesus (sections 11, 13, and 15) with the pianist bringing out every piercing emotion in these monumental works. Let's hope that at some point he will record the entire cycle. Perhaps most unusual is Carl Vine's Piano Sonata, written in 1990 for the Sydney Dance Company. (This work must have been a choreographer's dream.) It is a real dazzler, with relentless, darting cross rhythms that tickle the ear, and I don't think it is premature to call it one of the great piano sonatas of the 1990's. The two Respighi pieces are also alluring, with Babayan finding just the right touch to express their delicate, luminous sonorities. They also make a nice break between some of the more intense (and difficult) works before and after them. Perhaps the best are saved until last: selections 1, 3 and 7 from Ligeti's Musica Ricercata, written in the 1950's. Ligeti posed himself the problem of writing a cycle of short piano works in which No. 1 dwells on a single note (in this case, A), escalating in complexity all the way to the final one, No. 11, which uses all 12 notes in the octave. If you can't imagine how anyone could create music under such restrictions, here is the evidence. One of my first thoughts after hearing this marvelous project was to muse on how many pianists are out there doing terrific work, virtually out of sight of the general public. Babayan is on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and to be heartily commended for his commitment to nurturing young pianists. But I do hope he carves out more time in the recording studio. For most listeners, this little-known, spectacularly talented artist will be a real find."

Excellent!!!!!!!

klavier1024 | Cincinnati, OH | 03/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Upon my first listening to this CD, I thought it was incredible. The only pieces that I had heard before were the Respighi Notturno, and the Musica Ricercata by Ligeti. I havent spent much time listening to the Messaien, but, what i have heard is extremely good. The Carl Vine Sonata is an AMAZING piece!! I had heard his name before, but not any of his music. Babayan plays it extremely well. His technique is incredible. I would definitely buy this cd if you are interested in good piano music or post-modern style music."